They ate in silence, both casting glances towards Darcy's empty chair.

Georgiana shot angry and frustrated looks at it. Why did William have to be so stupid? Couldn't he see that Elizabeth was in love with him? He just left her hanging, and went off tromping across England. Perhaps Elizabeth might think he did not love her after all. Men, she thought disgustedly.

Meanwhile Elizabeth would cast sad and confused looks at Darcy's vacant place. Questions as to why Darcy would leave their company, without telling his sister personally, jumbled her thoughts. She knew it must be something related to her. Did he regret what he had said to her in the garden, and wished to put distance between them? What had she done?

*****

What had he done? Darcy asked himself for the umpteenth time that day. Since leaving Pemberley the previous afternoon, he had beat himself up. While he believed seeking out advice was for the best, all he had wanted to do as soon as he sat down in the carriage was to tell the coach driver to turn around go home.

It is for the best, he thought, trying to convince himself. He had debated internally through the night, driving straight through to Matlock.

As the large manor house came into sight, Darcy sighed in relief. Here he would receive wise counsel from his aunt and uncle. And, he hoped, Richard would not be there to tease and make the situation even harder than it was.

*****

"Mother, I believe I see a coach coming down the drive," Colonel Richard Fitzwilliam said lazily from his seat by the window.

"At this hour, Richard? It is nearly dinner. Surely you are mistaken." Lady Sophia Fitzwilliam said.

The Colonel called back, "Do not be surprised when Brown comes in and announces visitors."

"Richard, that is no way to talk to your mother," Lord Edmund Fitzwilliam (also known to some as the Earl of Matlock) said, trying not to smile at his son.

The Colonel rolled his eyes and grinned good-naturedly to his father. The three Fitzwilliams sat in comfortable silence, waiting for dinner to be announced.

The door opened a few minutes later, and the family looked up to see Brown, their butler, come in and announce, "Mr. Darcy."

"Darcy! Jolly good to see you, old man! You look terrible! Do not tell me you traveled through the night! Is Georgiana with you? Have you eaten yet?" The Colonel bombarded Darcy with questions, rushing up to his cousin and shaking his hand profusely.

"Richard," Darcy said, tiredly, amused by his cousin's never ending enthusiasm. "Aunt Sophia, Uncle Edward," he said, bowing to his aunt and uncle.

"William! What a lovely surprise!" Lady Sophia cried, taking Darcy's hands. "I hope your journey was pleasant."

"Just me alone with my thoughts, Aunt," Darcy said, stepping over to his uncle and receiving a hearty handshake followed by a hug. "Uncle, I hope you are doing well."

"I'm doing much better, my boy, seeing you," Lord Fitzwilliam said, jovially. "But where is my niece? I would thought you would have brought her with you Fitz!"

Darcy rubbed his eyes tiredly. "She is at home," he answered, and sank into a chair.

While the Colonel left the room to inform the staff of another addition to the dinner table, Darcy said to his aunt and uncle, "I am need of some advice."

The Fitzwilliams exchanged a look before agreeing. "It must be important for you to have left Pemberley an ride through the night," Lady Sophia said.

"It is," Darcy replied. "And I would rather Richard not be present."

"Rather Richard not be present when what?" Asked Richard himself, walking back into the room. "If it's about Miss Bennet staying at Pemberley, I know all the particulars from Georgiana, Fitz."

As Darcy groaned, Lord and Lady Fitzwilliam both asked at the same time, "Who is Miss Bennet?"

"May we speak of this tomorrow?" Darcy asked. "Richard, since you seem to know the particulars, you may take part in the conversation. Right now, I am hungry and rather tired."

"Of course, dear," Lady Sophia said, soothingly. "We'll have dinner, and then you may retire.

Dinner passed without incident, except for Richard spilling his soup all over the table and Darcy nearly falling asleep over dessert.

Darcy slept for most the next day, having barely slept in the coach. He joined his family for dinner, and after dinner the four moved to the sitting room, where Lord Fitzwilliam broached the subject.

"So, Darcy, what is it that you wanted to talk about?"

Darcy sighed. "It is about a certain young lady named—"

"Miss Elizabeth Bennet." Richard supplied.

"Yes." Darcy admitted.

Lady Sophia interrupted, "Pardon, both of you boys have mentioned Miss Bennet, and I still do not know who she is."

"I was getting to that, Aunt," Darcy said. He began to relate to them the whole story of his acquaintance with Elizabeth, starting from his dismissal of her at the Meryton assembly, to the past week with her at Pemberley.

Lord and Lady Fitzwilliam watched with growing concern as Darcy related his story. Since the death of his father, they had taken it upon themselves to guide Fitzwilliam and Georgiana. As a result, they felt Darcy's pain as he talked of the Hunsford proposal, his struggles to reform his character, and Miss Bingley's insult of the Gardiners and Elizabeth.

After Darcy finished his story, the three Fitzwilliams sat in silent thought, thinking about what Darcy had just told them.

"I do not want to risk asking her, until I am sure of her regard for me," Darcy explained. "But I am afraid that I may be misreading her feelings towards me so that I can satisfy my own. I dare not ask Georgiana, for she would like nothing better for me to marry Elizabeth."

"She does seem to be a good influence for Georgiana, from what you have said," Lady Sophia offered. "Since Ramsgate, I know you trust very few with Georgiana."

Darcy acknowledged his aunt's comment with a nod. "They have become very good friends these past weeks. I have seen Elizabeth care for her elder sister when she was sick, and she treats Georgiana with just as much care and kindness."

"I must say, Darcy," Lord Edmund said, "I believe that your Elizabeth would make a fine Mistress of Pemberley, if all you say of her is true. You know that it is Lady Catherine who cares for class rank and fortune, not your aunt and I. If you choose to marry Miss Bennet, you have our blessing. I advise you to do whatever will ensure both of your happiness."

"Thank you, Uncle. The entire staff at Pemberley adore her, and she is very kind and caring to them. There is the matter of her feelings for me, though." Darcy pointed out. That was the reason why his here, was it not? He wanted confirmation.

"She's in love with you, idiot," Richard spoke out for the first time since Darcy had started his story.

All three pairs of eyes turned and rested on him. "What?!" Richard exclaimed. "It's true!"

"And you would know because?" Lord Edmund asked his son.

"From what Darcy has said and what I have had from Georgiana," Richard explained, "I can only conclude it is so."

"What exactly did Georgiana tell you?" Darcy asked, impatiently. He was getting rather tired of his younger sister going behind his back with such matters.

"Oh, all sorts of things," Richard said, airily, to the annoyance of the rest of the party. "Like how whenever she and Elizabeth spoke of you, Elizabeth would blush or look down—that's a positive sign, Fitz. When you and Elizabeth would play together, the music sounded as if it were "Their two souls passionately entwining in song."---Those were Georgie's direct words, Darcy—too romantic for a sixteen-year old girl, don't you think? What sort of books are you letting her read, anyways?" This comment got him a pillow thrown at his head by Darcy.

"What was that for?" Richard complained.

Darcy sank back into his chair with a smug look on his face, while Lord and Lady Fitzwilliam laughed.

"But really, Darcy," Richard said, his voice taking a more serious note to it. "If she did not want to hear you propose again, she would have said something before you continued in the garden the other day. I know Elizabeth well enough to know she would lead you on like that. My only question is, why are you sitting here, when you should be home, courting your lady?"

"For once, I may agree with Richard," Lady Sophia said. "William, if you do love Miss Bennet, you will get back into your coach tomorrow morning and get back to Pemberley."

"And from there win your lady!" Richard said, enthusiastically. "Darcy, I must thank you for bringing Miss Elizabeth into the family! She truly is a gem!"

Lord Fitzwilliam rose and walked to the decanter of wine on the side of the room and poured four glasses before distributing them to the others. He raised his glass saying, "To Miss Elizabeth Bennet, a truly remarkable young lady, that has had my usually sedate and confident nephew on his toes!"

"And to Georgie, who is such a good informant!" Richard cried, rising to his feet.

Darcy offered a small smile to his relatives, raised his glass in a small salute, before taking a sip.

"Is something the matter, Aunt," he asked with concern, seeing Lady Sophia dabbing at her eyes with her handkerchief.

"No, no, I am fine my dear," she said hastily, stowing her handkerchief away. "I am just happy that you have found someone to love and share a life with. Ever since your father died, all I have wished for is your happiness, as well as Georgiana's. And if Miss Bennet can satisfy this, how can I not love her as well?"

Darcy was touched by his aunt's sentiments, and went to kiss her cheek. "Thank you, Aunt. I believe you will."

"Now my boy, I believe you must have your carriage ready to travel at first light tomorrow if you want to be back at Pemberley by afternoon the following day. It is quite a distance," Lord Fitzwilliam said, clapping Darcy on the back. "It would not do to keep your lady waiting."

"No indeed, Uncle, no indeed," Darcy replied. He felt lighter, happier than he had felt for the past eight and forty hours. He was going home! I am coming, Elizabeth! He thought.

*****

The cheerful and pleasant air that had surrounded Pemberley had disappeared and had given way to a strained and tight atmosphere. Elizabeth and Georgiana talked and laughed, but there was a certain lack of whole-heartedness when they did so. This went on about for a day and half, until the third day of Darcy's absence.

Right about the time in the evening when far off in the Fitzwilliam's sitting room Darcy was informing his relatives of the whole affair, Elizabeth and Georgiana were sitting together after dinner in the music room.

Georgiana studied her friend, who was looking at the assortment of music near the piano. Elizabeth had lost her cheerfulness and had smiled very little since Darcy's surprise departure.

"What were you and my brother talking of when I happened across you in the garden two days ago?" Georgiana asked, suddenly.

She saw something like regret flash across Elizabeth's eyes before sadness and worry took its place once more.

"Oh, nothing of consequence," Elizabeth replied.

Not believing this and deciding to be brave, Georgiana went to Elizabeth and knelt at her feet, taking one of her hands.

"Lizzy, are you in love with my brother?" She asked, timidly.

Elizabeth looked down in surprise, having not expected that question. She stared into Georgiana's eyes, which were so much like her brother's.

"Yes. Yes, I dare say I am," she said finally.

Georgiana let out a sigh of relief. "Oh good. I was beginning to think you didn't. "

"How could I not?" Elizabeth asked softly. "He is the best man I have ever known, besides my father, or Mr. Bingley…but…do you know of his first proposal?" At Georgiana's nod, Elizabeth continued more seriously, "I do not think he will be renewing his addresses to me. I have treated him so abominably and there are many other young ladies of fortune who will soon wipe away any affections he had for me. He must have realized this, and wished to distance himself, and therefore left unexpectedly the other day."

Georgiana let out a frustrated sound. "You both are such fools! He loves you Lizzy! That is why he left!"

"Exactly," Elizabeth said. "Except he only thinks he still loves me, yet is aware of my unsuitability. He has left to clear his mind of me. You see, Georgiana, I have thought it all through."

"Do you know what he wrote in his letter?" Georgiana asked, desperate to make Elizabeth see. "He said that because he loved you, he wanted to seek my uncle and aunt's advice. He did not wish to risk losing you again to a hasty proposal!"

"Has he told you he loves me?"

"Yes, that night that Caroline Bingley said those awful things to you!" Georgiana said.

Elizabeth sighed. "Georgiana, he deserves someone who is accomplished—"

"You are quite accomplished, in my opinion."

"With a fortune—"

"He doesn't care. I should think we have enough money."

"And good connections in society."

"We already have enough, so I hardly think William would need to marry someone who knows people."

Elizabeth tried again. "Georgiana, though you and your brother may not care, society does. If your brother were to marry me, he would be looked down upon for his unfit wife."

"Elizabeth Bennet! Do you hear yourself?" Georgiana cried. "You are letting Miss Bingley's words get to you. He loves you! Truly! He could not care less what society thinks of him in marrying you!"

"Really?" asked Elizabeth coldly. "The last time he asked for my hand he made it quite clear that my connections were what kept him from asking for my hand sooner."

"But he's changed!"

"Has he?" Elizabeth's voice sounded sad. "Even if he has, he does deserve better."

"Better how? What of his heart?" Georgiana asked, nearly in tears. "He deserves someone who will love him, not for his money, but for himself. You love him for himself, Lizzy, and he loves you, regardless of who your family is or what sort of connections you have."

"Georgiana Darcy, that is quite enough." Elizabeth said, rising from the chair. "I know you have wished for your brother and I to marry, but…it is impossible. He must find a rich young lady with proper connections, and forget about the country girl he thinks he loves."

"He does not think he loves you, he DOES love you!" Georgiana said, stubbornly. "You love him, he loves you. I do not see anything stopping you from marrying."

Elizabeth shook her head. "Georgiana, I wish it were that simple. Your brother faces pressure from society to marry well, whether he acknowledges it or not. I have decided to make it easier for him."

"Make it easier for him how?" Georgiana asked, confident that her brother did not care a jot for what society thought of his marriage.

"I intend to leave."

"What?!" Georgiana cried. "But you can't possibly leave! You have only stayed a week!"

"A week more than I should have," Elizabeth said, taking Georgiana's hands. "You have been a delightful companion Georgiana, and I hope that we shall still be friends after I go home."

Georgiana shook her head. "Please Lizzy, stay a little longer. Wait for Fitzwilliam to return."

"I can't, Georgie," whispered Elizabeth. "It will hurt too much and make it harder for me to leave."

"Don't leave then." Georgiana said simply.

"Your brother needs to start on a clean slate and forget about me," Elizabeth said, with a sad smile.

Georgiana could see that Elizabeth was determined to leave. "At least stay until Fitzwilliam writes of his return. He said he would, and I do not want to be alone." She hedged a bit about the part of Darcy writing home of his return, but she so wanted Elizabeth to stay and realize Darcy loved her and did not care about society.

Elizabeth consented. "I think I will retire now," she said. "I have much to think about."

Georgiana nodded. She too had a lot of thinking ahead of her, mainly of schemes of detaining Elizabeth at Pemberley long enough for Fitzwilliam to return. "I will see you in the morning."

******

Elizabeth lay in her bed that night, unable to sleep.

Her conversation with Georgiana had convinced her that she was not a suitable choice of wife for Darcy. Miss Bingley's words came back to haunt her.

"But she has nothing to recommend herself to be Mistress of Pemberley! Nothing! No fortune, no connections! And her relations, Mr. Darcy! Tradesmen in the local village! Residents on Gracechurch Street! How can you say that such a country bumpkin like her could be the Mistress of Pemberley!"

Despite the reassurances that others had given her, Elizabeth saw the truth in Miss Bingley's words. Darcy deserved so much better. Sighing, she turned on her side.

What was she to do? She did not think she could bear seeing Darcy again, and seeing his smile and hearing his laughter and not be able to leave. Yet if she left, she would be breaking her own heart. But by leaving, she would be giving Darcy space, time to think about the consequences of such a marriage. She was sure he would be able to come up with them quickly, seeing as he had listed them to her in Kent just that spring.

Knowing what she had to do, Elizabeth got up and lit a candle.

*****

The next morning Georgiana got up and at her breakfast fast, intending on beginning her quest to keep Elizabeth within her sight until Fitzwilliam returned.

She nearly ran to Elizabeth's door, and walked in without knocking.

"Lizzy?" She called. No one answered.

Georgiana checked the dressing room only to find it empty. She had begun to walk out of the dressing room, when she stopped and noticed something. All of Elizabeth's gowns were gone.

A sinking feeling began to grow in Georgiana's stomach as she scanned Elizabeth's room. Nothing of Elizabeth's personal items were in sight.

Georgiana ran out into the hallway, searching for Mrs. Reynolds. She found the housekeeper just shutting the front door.

As Mrs. Reyonlds turned, Georgiana saw a look of worry settle on her face.

"Where is Elizabeth?" Georgiana asked, dreading the answer.

"She just left, Miss Darcy."

"Left where, for her walk? Why did she not ask me to go with her?" Georgiana asked, ready to believe anything.

"I meant Miss Bennet just left for Hertfordshire."

Georgiana's heart sank. She hurried to the window in time to see a carriage disappear down the drive.

"Send someone after her," Georgiana said, walking back to Mrs. Reynolds.

"If you please, Miss Georgiana, she left this for you." Mrs Reynolds held out a letter.

Taking it, Georgiana went into the nearest room and sat down.

Dearest Georgiana, began the letter.

I thought about our conversation last night, and I believe this is for the best. Do not send anyone after me.

You have been a wonderful friend, Georgiana. I hope that you will come visit me. Perhaps for Jane and Charles's wedding?

Please understand that this was very hard for me. I do love Fitzwilliam, but he needs to see that it is all for the best that he forgets me. Don't let him be discouraged. Comfort him, then help him find a suitable match in London this fall. I am sure you, my dear, will be the talk of the ton at your coming out.

Your loving friend, Elizabeth Bennet

Georgiana began to cry in frustration. When she finally finished crying for Elizabeth, Fitzwilliam, and herself, she fell asleep in her chair, where Mrs. Reynolds found her an hour later.

Oooo, the drama. I was very unsure about putting this in. I don't think I put enough of Elizabeth's insecurities in, but Miss Bingley did touch a sensitive topic that day….

Anyways, I'm REALLLLYYYY sorry that I left a cliff hanger. What's Darcy going to do when he arrives home and Lizzy's not there? What's Lizzy going to do when she goes home? How's Georgiana coping with everyone getting up and leaving her, with only a note saying goodbye.?

All to come next Saturday. I know, it's a long time, but I won't have time to update with school, homework, and cross country.

Thank you for your support—there will be a sequel! After this is finished, of course. I'm getting ahead of myself. Thank you again!